Indie games have never been more vibrant, and the Indie Game Awards 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling showcase of imagination, innovation, and raw talent. With a nominee list that reads like a greatest-hits compilation for indie fans, this year’s awards are set to spotlight the most creative voices in gaming. Whether you’re hunting for your next obsession or just want to stay ahead of indie game trends 2025, these nominees are must-plays that prove the indie scene is anything but niche.
The Indie Game Awards 2025 Nominee Lineup: A New Golden Age?
The official shortlist for the 2025 indie game nominees is stacked with both long-awaited sequels and bold new IPs. Here’s a look at the ten titles making waves this year:
Top 10 Indie Game Awards 2025 Nominees
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Hollow Knight: Silksong by Team Cherry – The long-awaited sequel delivers intricate platforming, haunting lore, and a mesmerizing hand-drawn world.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive – A visually stunning JRPG-inspired adventure where a cursed world’s fate hinges on a single expedition.
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Hades II by Supergiant Games – Dive deeper into Greek myth with this roguelike sequel, featuring fast-paced combat and a rich narrative.
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Blue Prince by Dogubomb – Explore an ever-shifting mansion in this stylish puzzle adventure where every room holds a new mystery.
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Nine Sols by RedCandleGames – A beautifully animated action-platformer blending cyberpunk and Eastern mythology, packed with challenging combat.
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Death Trick: Double Blind by Misty Mountain Studio – Solve a magical murder mystery in a circus setting, where every perspective reveals new secrets.
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Little Kitty, Big City by Double Dagger Studio – Play as a mischievous cat exploring a vibrant city in this charming sandbox adventure.
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Split Fiction by Studio 46 – A narrative-driven game where two realities collide, offering branching stories and unique mechanics.
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Europa by Helder Pinto – Glide across a lush, terraformed moon in this serene exploration platformer inspired by classic sci-fi.
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The Plucky Squire by All Possible Futures – Leap between 2D storybook pages and 3D worlds in this inventive action-adventure bursting with creativity.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong – The long-awaited sequel that has finally emerged from its cocoon, dazzling fans with expanded lore and punishingly elegant platforming.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – This JRPG-inspired adventure leads the pack in nominations, blending painterly visuals with a mysterious world and turn-based combat twists.
- Hades II – Supergiant Games returns with deeper progression systems and frenetic action, earning critical raves (and a sky-high Metacritic score).
- Blue Prince – A narrative-driven experience that weaves puzzle mechanics into an enigmatic royal mystery.
- Nine Sols – Stylish action meets atmospheric world-building in this East Asian mythology-inspired platformer.
- Death Trick: Double Blind – A detective game that reinvents visual novel conventions with its dual protagonist system and branching mysteries.
- Little Kitty, Big City – Pure joy in feline form; explore an open world as a mischievous cat causing delightful chaos.
- Split Fiction – An ambitious narrative experiment where choices ripple across parallel storylines.
- Europa – Soar across surreal landscapes in this exploration-driven adventure set on Jupiter’s moon.
- The Plucky Squire – A genre-blending romp where characters leap between storybook pages and 3D worlds.
Picks to Watch: What Sets These Games Apart?
This year’s field is fiercely competitive. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, leading with six nominations including Studio of the Year, has become an instant wishlist darling thanks to its lush art direction and unique combat. Meanwhile, Hollow Knight: Silksong, after years of anticipation (and meme-worthy delays), is finally here, delivering on every ounce of hype with challenging boss fights and haunting music. Supergiant’s Hades II, already lauded for its addictive loop and storytelling depth, looks poised to sweep categories like Best Narrative and Best Action Game. But it’s not just sequels stealing the show. Nine Sols, The Plucky Squire, and The Blue Prince are all original IPs pushing boundaries, whether through innovative mechanics or genre mashups. And don’t overlook charming curveballs like Little Kitty, Big City, which proves you don’t need epic stakes to create pure gaming joy.
The Community Pulse and Wishlist Buzz
The buzz isn’t just coming from critics, player communities are lighting up social media with predictions, fanart, speedruns, and heated debates over which title deserves Game of the Year honors. On platforms like Discord and Reddit, passionate threads dissect every trailer drop or gameplay reveal for clues about who might take home top honors this December.
If you’re looking to curate your own list of wishlist indie games 2025, these nominees are essential picks. Not only do they represent what’s trending now, they’re shaping what comes next in indie development philosophy. Stay tuned for deeper dives into each contender’s standout features, and our own predictions on which studio will walk away as indie royalty at this year’s ceremony!
It’s not just hype driving the anticipation for these titles, each nominee on the Indie Game Awards 2025 list brings something distinctly fresh to the table. Whether you’re a fan of tightly-woven narratives, genre-defying mechanics, or simply crave new worlds to explore, there’s a standout experience waiting for you here. The variety is staggering: from the noir-inspired sleuthing of Death Trick: Double Blind, to the mind-bending duality of Split Fiction, and the playful, open-world antics of Little Kitty, Big City. Every game feels like a statement, not just about what indie can be, but what it should aspire to become.
Blue Prince and The Plucky Squire are especially worth highlighting for their sheer inventiveness. Blue Prince draws players into a shifting castle filled with puzzles and secrets that reward curiosity over brute force. Meanwhile, The Plucky Squire blurs the lines between 2D and 3D gameplay in ways that have already inspired a wave of imitators. If you’re tracking the pulse of indie game trends 2025, these two are at the forefront.
Nine Sols, with its stylish combat and mythological setting, stands as a love letter to both classic action games and modern narrative design. And then there’s Europa: an atmospheric exploration game set on Jupiter’s moon that has quietly built a cult following thanks to its meditative pacing and breathtaking visuals.
What Makes an Indie GOTY?
The ultimate winner at this year’s awards will be decided by more than technical polish or marketing muscle, it’ll come down to which title resonates most with players’ hearts and imaginations. The diversity among nominees reflects how far indies have come; no longer confined by budget or scope, these studios are now setting trends followed even by AAA developers.
If you’re new to indie discovery or want to maximize your wishlist for 2025, keep your eyes on games that foster community engagement and replayability. For instance, Hades II‘s roguelike loop ensures endless runs feel fresh, while Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s intricate world invites deep lore dives and speedrunning challenges. And don’t underestimate sleeper hits like Death Trick: Double Blind, which could surprise everyone come award night.
Top Features of 2025 Indie Game Awards Nominees
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Hollow Knight: Silksong — The long-awaited sequel delivers expansive new worlds, challenging combat, and rich lore with a new protagonist, Hornet. Its hand-drawn art and intricate platforming have set a new standard for Metroidvanias.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — A JRPG-inspired adventure featuring turn-based combat, stunning painterly visuals, and a unique narrative structure that blends surrealism with emotional storytelling.
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Hades II — Building on its predecessor, Hades II introduces deeper progression systems, new gods and mythic powers, and refined roguelike action set in a beautifully animated underworld.
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Blue Prince — An innovative puzzle adventure with procedurally generated mansions, mysterious narrative elements, and a distinctive visual style that keeps players guessing with every playthrough.
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Nine Sols — This action-platformer fuses Taiwanese mythology with precision-based combat and hand-drawn animation, offering a unique blend of lore and challenging gameplay.
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Death Trick: Double Blind — A mystery visual novel that uses dual protagonist perspectives and non-linear storytelling to unravel a circus disappearance, featuring stylish retro visuals.
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Little Kitty, Big City — A charming open-world adventure where you play as a mischievous cat exploring a bustling city, featuring playful physics-based interactions and delightful environmental puzzles.
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Split Fiction — A narrative-driven adventure with branching storylines, multiple playable characters, and a stylized comic book aesthetic that adapts to player choices.
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Europa — A serene exploration platformer set on a terraformed moon, featuring fluid movement mechanics, lush environments, and a meditative soundtrack that encourages discovery.
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The Plucky Squire — A genre-blending adventure where characters jump between 2D storybook pages and 3D real-world environments, showcasing inventive gameplay and whimsical art direction.
How to Get Involved and Where to Watch
The excitement culminates on December 18th at 11: 30 PM GMT when winners will be revealed live on Six One Indie’s YouTube and Twitch channels. Whether you’re rooting for old favorites or discovering new obsessions, this is one event where every reveal feels personal, and every win is a victory for creativity itself.
If you want more tips on discovering hidden gems before they hit mainstream buzz, check out our guide on how to wishlist indie games in 2025. The indie scene has never been more accessible, or more inspiring.
No matter who takes home Game of the Year at the Indie Game Awards 2025, one thing is certain: this lineup will define what we play (and dream about) well into next year. Which title tops your own wishlist?
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